Achievements

Erin and I have been working on the Mobile Express for a while, and we're both very excited to inform our readers that we have surpassed the 60,000 mile benchmark. That's about 200 trips from Cincinnati to Cleveland. In other words, we have been all over the state of Ohio.

On a personal note, I am happy to announce that I have completed my 1,000th application. Most of them have been for SNAP and taxes, but my grand includes student aid applications, voter registrations, and a few Title XXs sprinkled in for good measure. A huge majority of those applications were performed out on the road and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to travel (60,000 miles!) throughout the state helping people apply for the programs that they're eligible for. It's a good feeling.

Snow Covererd Cattails in Cambridge



Snow Abounds on the Cattails





The Mobile Express team visited the GMN Tricounty Community Action Agency in Cambridge, Ohio. We conducted our tax clinic in a multipurpose room littered with bingo tabs from the night before—evidence that this building is a true gathering place for the community. The building, which houses the Community Action Agency and a Head Start program, was off the beaten path, but I suppose in rural Ohio most things are. People came from near and far on a snowy Saturday to get their taxes done. Below is pictured a mother daughter team who braved the weather to get their taxes done for free, making plans for their returns. Here are some suggestions about how to spend and save if you are fortunate enough to get a tax refund.

Creating a Person Out of Thin Air

Last year I was talking with a fellow OBB tax counselor and she mentioned how amazing she felt to help someone get a $6,000 tax refund. I agreed and told her that if she thought that was great, wait until she did a $10,000 tax refund. That would really be something.

She replied, "This is not a contest."

That's absolutely correct. Helping a single dude with a single W-2 (like me!) get a little bit back can be just as rewarding as helping a low-income mother of three receive a whopping Earned Income Tax Credit. Once you embrace the value that people shouldn't have to pay to get their taxes done, the number of people served becomes even more important than the number of dollars generated.

That being said, I really want to show off about all the refund dollars I helped people get back at a tax clinic in Millersburg, Ohio earlier this month.

I had four clients over the course of five hours. It just so happened that each client was due a massive return. Two were due over $9,000. After all was said and done, The Ohio Benefit Bank and I had injected over $25,000 into the community. In just five hours.

Think about how much money that is! That is like creating a fictional Millersburg citizen and giving him/her a full-time job. That money will be spent on local goods, local services, and improve the quality of like for an entire town. That is a huge stimulative impact and The Ohio Benefit Bank's tax services made it possible.

And that was just me. As Erin previously mentioned, there were other counselors there doing the same thing. Luck of the draw meant that I got all the big money clients, but they were all working the same clinic from beginning to end allowing the good people of Millersburg to get their taxes done for free within the span of an hour. Helping that many people get that much money back is about as good as it gets in this line of work.

Soup Kitchen Cooks up Love

Russell and I attended the soup kitchen at St. Ladislas pictured above.  The soup kitchen is sponsored by the Church for All People located on Parsons Avenue in Columbus and it is a wonderful testimony to different congregations working together toward a common goal. 

As we entered the building it was clear that there was something good cooking there.  Jimi, resident chef, was fixing pulled roast beef and mashed potatoes for the crowd that was gathered.  Local volunteers adorned with hair nets were plentiful and cheerful.  Many of them come for the meal and stay on to help with set up and clean up.  The atmosphere was bright and folks welcomed us with open arms. 

During our short visit, we completed 11 applications for 7 people.  Four people  have a good chance to receive emergency food stamps because of our work.  Two of these were individuals living in tents near Greenlawn Cemetery.  Two other people we met did not have mailing addresses and could not complete their applications at this time.  We facilitated a connection between them and the Church for all People, where they may be allowed to use the church as a mailing address.  Unfortunately, in Columbus, if you don't have a direct connection to the homeless shelter or have some other personal resource for an address, it may be difficult to obtain benefits.  Russell and I left both gentlemen with information about how to contact The Ohio Benefit Bank and/or Job and Family Services directly once they find a home for their mail.  

As I look into the deeply lined faces, I recognize how fortunate I am.

One gentleman as we were leaving said, "I live pillar to post......and am richer than 1/3 of all people.  Those people don't have a penny.  At least I have two pennies to rub together."  He had bright blue eyes and an engaging smile.  It was clear that all the clothes he had were on his back.  I learned a valuable lesson about attitude that day. 

Taxes on the Lake

Great tax clinic in Sandusky, Ohio in collaboration with Goodwill Industries.  Thirty-five (35) clients attended, getting their federal and state taxes completed by 10 counselors.  Russell and I completed 17 applications with 9 folks. 

Goodwill was very organized greeting people as they came in and shepherded them to available counselors.  It was a very successful day.  Not only that but they treated us to pizza and pop!
Our next trip is to Knox County--we're on the road again!

Winter Wonderland

Went to beautiful Millersburg Ohio for the Super Saturday Tax Clinic at the Love Center.  The white stuff cooperated and held off until we got settled in.  Then it began to shower down in earnest--creating a winter wonderland. 

The snowfall did not deter our clients in the least.   All in all, we completed 26 applications with returns spanning from $6-$6,000.  We also managed to do two(2) food assistance applications as well.  When someone comes in with a W-2 with $85 of earned income for the year, it is a clue that they may need some other support.

Aaron Bartlett, area  OBB Community Organizer VISTA and Judy Winegar of the Love Center were our gracious hosts--organizing the clinic, arranging appointments and plying us with food. 

The snow conveniently melted on the roadways for us to travel back home.  Gotta rest up for next week-- 5 clinics from Sandusky to Knox County, from Cleveland to Cambridge and one in good old Columbus.

Lake County JFS Lays Out the Red Carpet

Russell and I were warmly greeted by the Lake County Job and Family Services  in Painesville, Ohio. We gathered there with local VISTAs Leah Brown, Jessie Barth and Aaron Bartlett to do taxes. 

The employees set us up in a spacious meeting room complete with wireless connection and coffee. Overall, they were very attentive and made sure that communication was clear among front desk staff.

They also gave us thumb drives to put each client's tax forms on. This, in addition to paper copies of returns, makes it very easy for clients to access their personal tax information in the future.

We will return to this location again in February....love the red carpet treatment!